Injuries, bye weeks and breaking news can leave fantasy lineups thin, and ESPN's Matt Bowen is offering late-week pickups at each primary fantasy position for Week 5. The column focuses mostly on players rostered in fewer than 50% of ESPN leagues, with an emphasis on deeper leagues.
The Week 5 slate features tough quarterback matchups, but Bowen still sees four options in the QB2 range with upside. Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins (33.3% rostered) has scored 20 or more points in three straight games and has thrown two or more touchdown passes in all four. Bowen calls him a superflex starter against the Patriots, citing his eight red zone touchdown passes, tied for second most in the league. Houston's C.J. Stroud (41.1% rostered) is scoring 17.1 points per game, with wide receiver Nico Collins a key factor in the offense, and he has value as a QB2 in superflex formats against the Titans.
Among the other quarterbacks, Green Bay's Jordan Love averages 16.2 fantasy points per game and is attempting 38.5 passes per game, with positive perimeter matchups for Christian Watson and Matthew Golden. Cleveland's Deshaun Watson, averaging 31.8 rushing yards per game, fits as a dual-threat QB2 despite a tough Jets matchup.
At wide receiver, Bowen likes Miami's Malik Washington (33.4% rostered), who has scored 11 or more points in back-to-back games and averages seven targets per game, and recommends him as a WR3. Indianapolis's Keenan Allen (38.5% rostered), expected back from a groin injury, is also a possible add.
Source: ESPN NFL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing